Subject: 1997 Ford F-150
Date:    Sat, 17 Jan 1998 19:48:43 -0500

Hi Todd.
I'd like to pass along my experiences with Ford over the past two
years.

In April 1996 I bought a pretty basic 1997 Ford F-150 4x4 pickup.
Anyone silly enough to purchase a Ford product would be well advised
to check all (and I mean ALL) fluids and lubricants in the vehicle;
I checked the truck out the day of delivery -- Cooling system: 3
quarts low. Oil: 1 quart low. Rear differential: 1 pint low. Front
differential: ALMOST EMPTY. Transmission: 1.5 pints low. The only
full fluid vessel was the brake master cylinder. I don't know whether
Ford deliberately short-fills the fluids but I bet they save ALOT
of $$$ by doing so. I shortly found that the steering shaft was loose.
I had the steering shaft serviced or replaced five times. The coating
on the frame began to flake off after only about 5,000 miles. I had
the truck back twice for frame coating -- problem never fully resolved.
The rear axle came loose. The front brake rotors were junk after
about 3,000 miles.

After 8 or 10 visits to the dealer with no satisfaction and innumerable
calls to Ford's 800 number (A TOTAL waste of time and energy.) I
was completely disgusted and traded up to an F-150 Supercab XLT at
another dealer. Guess what? $5,000.00 more truck and the same problems.
-- The brakes are like mush and the left rear wheel locks up with
the slightest brake pressure when it rains. This truck's been back
5 times for steering shafts and it's worse now then ever. I've had
the interior door panel on the third door replaced, cruise control
switches gone bad (THREE visits to the dealer for the dolts to figure
that out.) Bad door seals, bad power mirrors, loose heat shields;
the list goes on and on.

I'm completely fed up. If I did my job the way Ford builds and services
cars and trucks I'd probably be in jail. I have no intention whatsover
of letting this matter slide. I've served the dealer with notice
that I'm going to return the truck under the [Massachusetts] 'Lemon
Law.' I expect Ford to fight me every step of the way. Get this:
The service manager wanted to know why I didn't call the 800 number.
I explained to him that I know that what the 800 folks do is send
a teletype message to the dealer (Which is in fact all they do.)
All it does is add another tier to the communication between consumer
and dealer. The dealership that I bought my first truck from swore
up and down that they NEVER had a single message from the 800 customer
service line. The 800 customer service people swore up and down that
they sent a message every time. Who's lying? Who cares. As far as
I'm concerned they both lied.

I intend to make this as difficult on the dealer and Ford as I possibly
can. I tell everyone I meet who's interested in a new car to stay
away from Ford (And American cars and trucks in general.) I'd happily
go with a foreign-built truck, but I need a full size pickup for
towing. I had a Chevy pickup for 9 years (182,000 miles!) until a
nice little old lady ran a stop light at 45 mph and pushed the front
axle right out of the truck.) The truck was well built overall. However,
that truck had a defective transfer case when I bought it. (New.)
The dealer had it for over a month and then refused to pay for substitute
transportation. I had to sue them. They lost big time. My transportation
expenses were $700.00. The judge awarded me that plus another $300.00
in punitive damages. Fortunately, that was the only major problem
I had with that truck. I just don't think this Ford's going to last
as long as that Chevy did. The point is: All Ford and car manufacturers
in general want is YOUR MONEY. Once they have that Ford IS going
to take this truck back even if I have to sue them. I am NOT buying
another Ford new or used. The people I really feel bad for are the
ones who pay upwards of $30,000.00 for Expeditions, Crown Victorias
and Lincolns. Big bucks but the construction is just as crappy as
my $24,000.00 pickup truck.

Thanks for letting me blow off some steam. Just remember -- FORD SUCKS.

Ben L.